Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich
Portland, OR (PRWEB) September 10, 2013
In her new book, “Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle,” gluten-free baker Kyra Bussanich shares her winning recipes for healthy treats that taste even better than those prepared traditionally.
“Being a gluten-free baker doesn’t have to mean you lose the yum in pastries and baked goods; they can be even more delicious than traditional flour-filled pastries,” says Bussanich, who proved her point with wins on The Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” in 2011 and 2012. She also appeared on the show in 2010 and was a runner-up 2012 Cupcake Champion.
After suffering a life-threatening illness at 20, she was able to get well with the help of a new diet without gluten, a protein in flour-based foods. She refined her skills as a gluten-free baker while attending the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu patisserie program.
While many prepackaged gluten-free snacks depend on adding lots of sugar for taste, Bussanich says her recipes often call for less sugar than traditional flour desserts. Her healthy-meets-delicious recipes, featured in “Sweet Cravings,” have helped make her business, Kyra’s Bake Shop, a phenomenal success in her hometown of Lake Oswego, Oreg.
While being diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder was part of a traumatic period of her life, Bussanich is pleased she turned a negative into a positive for her and the rest of the world. Many are following the gluten-free lifestyle these days not out of necessity, but for better overall health and well-being. Celebrities who’ve kicked gluten include Oprah Winfrey, Zooey Deschanel, and men’s tennis leader Djovak Nokovic.
“I believe that for every set of obstacles one faces, you will either find a way to overcome those challenges, or succumb to excuses,” Bussanich says. “My diagnosis turned into an opportunity for me to turn lemons into gluten-free lemon meringue pie!”
“When Kyra won her episode of ‘Cupcake Wars,’ she amazed me with her baking technique and flawless execution,” says Florian Bellanger, founder of Mad Mac NYC and a judge on The Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” “I am now convinced that prepared the right way, gluten-free baking can produce a most delectable result, and Kyra’s book is a perfect introduction.”
Teri S., a customer of Bussanich’s bakery, writes, “I’m not gluten-free, but Oh My God—those were the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had!”
About Kyra Bussanich
Kyra Bussanich is a two-time winner of The Food Network’s hit show, “Cupcake Wars.” She graduated with honors from Le Cordon Bleu and opened her award-winning bakery, Kyra's Bake Shop, which features gourmet, gluten-free sweets. She has branched beyond desserts to other gluten-free goods in order to help those with celiac and other autoimmune diseases enjoy quality treats. For more information visit http://www.kyrasbakeshop.com.